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11 July 2012

Jazz Nights at The Halia

Sunday nights are all about relaxing, as you try to forget that nag in the back of your mind reminding you it's nearly Monday and time to go back to work again. The perfect place to unwind and finish your weekend in the right way might just be by enjoying a jazz night at The Halia in the Botanic Gardens.

Image courtesy of FoodNews

Exterior of The Halia

Image courtesy of FoodNews

The jazz nights take place every second and last Sunday of the month and feature local jazz sensations including Claressa Monteiro and Richard Jackson. Claressa Monteiro has over two decades of singing experience and has recorded three albums. She has performed at many notable events including the Singapore Arts Festival. Richard Jackson was a featured artiste at the first Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2008. He has also performed at numerous jazz festivals both in Singapore and elsewhere.

To accompany the jazz there is, of course, great food too, all created by Chef de Cuisine Reynaldo Arriola who has introduced several new creations inspired by his five years based in France. I've dined at The Halia once before and I enjoyed my second visit and the food just as much as on my first time there. We began by enjoying an amuse bouche of vine cherry tomato drizzled with honey vinaigrette. The tomatoes were super sweet and juicy and certainly prepared me for my dinner. I chose an appetiser of a tian of vine ripened tomato, pine nut, guacamole, mango salsa, shiso and braised courgette ($28). A refreshing and light way to start my evening with a mixture of sweetness from the mango and tomatoes contrasting with the guacamole and the crunchiness of the pine nuts beautifully.

Halia means ginger in Malay and ginger is an ingredient found in a number of the dishes that are available on the menu. My appetiser was followed by a ginger flower sorbet palette cleanser. The ginger gave the sorbet a refreshing tang and ensured my taste buds were ready for my main course.

My main course choice of 300 days grain-fed Rangers Valley Black Angus tenderloin (180gm), truffle celeriac mash, edamame, baby carrot, asparagus, tomato confit infused with thyme and garlic with a red wine jus ($68) was delicious. The beef was perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth as I savoured every bite. The vegetables were delicious and great accompaniments to the beef.

For dessert I chose freshly baked fig tart, bacon pear ice cream, almond date, brie cheese, sour cream sabayon with wild mountain honey ($16). I really could taste the bacon flavour in the ice cream which was an excellent contrast to the sweetness of the fig tart. I admit to generally being a little dull when it comes to cheese. I mainly eat cheddar and would never consider ordering cheese and biscuits. However the brie cheese element of the dish worked wonderfully well against the sweetness of the dish. It would possibly be the perfect choice for someone wanting a sweet dessert but who also enjoys their cheese and biscuit fix too.

To conclude my meal, and in addition to enjoying a Ginger Cosmopolitan (﻿ginger flower, vodka, triple sec, cranberry $19) and a glass of white wine, I enjoyed a Hot Halia Infusion (sun-dried ginger from Hanoi steeped in hot water for an hour, served with wild mountain honey $10). I actually had one of these on my last visit to The Halia and it really is delicious and great for settling your stomach after a large meal.

I enjoyed an evening of good food and good live music which awaits you too on jazz Sundays at The Halia.

Ginger Cosmopolitan (ginger flower, vodka, triple sec, cranberry)

Image courtesy of FoodNews﻿

Hot Halia Infusion (sun-dried ginger from Hanoi steeped in hot water for an hour, served with wild mountain honey)

Image courtesy of FoodNews﻿

"Jazz Nights at The Halia" is held every second and last Sunday of the month at The Halia outdoor deck, from 7pm-8pm (1st set), 8.30pm-9.30pm (2nd set) and 9.45pm-10.30pm (final set).

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